How urgent is the call to switch energy providers...?

esuhl

I saw the message in the newsletter saying, "For heaven's sake, bills are rising - sort your energy NOW".

But... how urgent is this...? I'm on a fix that ends in nine days, and it'll cost £30 to exit early.

Should I leave now, or wait it out...?

molerat

If you are in a fix that ends in 9 days you have been free to move penalty free for the past 40 days as the e-mail / letter you would have received from your supplier between 40 and 33 days ago informed you. Get switching NOW!

System

esuhl wrote: »

I saw the message in the newsletter saying, "For heaven's sake, bills are rising - sort your energy NOW".

But... how urgent is this...? I'm on a fix that ends in nine days, and it'll cost £30 to exit early.

Should I leave now, or wait it out...?

Choose a supplier that offers 17 day switching or you could end up on your supplier's standard variable tariff until the switch goes through. Iresa, for example, takes no switching action until after the 14 day cooling off period has elapsed.

nickcc

Just switched from BG unfortunately chose the cheapest so will have to pay BG for extra month. Still works out massively cheaper than standard BG tariff.

esuhl

molerat wrote: »

If you are in a fix that ends in 9 days you have been free to move penalty free for the past 40 days as the e-mail / letter you would have received from your supplier between 40 and 33 days ago informed you. Get switching NOW!

Oh, really? I haven't received an email from my supplier recently.

I checked the original paperwork and it clearly says that I'll be charged if I move before 28 Feb... :-/

Hengus wrote: »

Choose a supplier that offers 17 day switching or you could end up on your supplier's standard variable tariff until the switch goes through. Iresa, for example, takes no switching action until after the 14 day cooling off period has elapsed.

Ah, right. I forgot that the switch won't happen overnight! Do most suppliers wait 14 days? If so, i could start the switch now knowing that it will actually happen after 28 Feb anyway.

Thanks all :-)

molerat

esuhl wrote: »

Oh, really? I haven't received an email from my supplier recently.

I checked the original paperwork and it clearly says that I'll be charged if I move before 28 Feb... :-/



Ah, right. I forgot that the switch won't happen overnight! Do most suppliers wait 14 days? If so, i could start the switch now knowing that it will actually happen after 28 Feb anyway.

Thanks all :-)

Your supplier's licence conditions mandate them to inform you of your end of term between 49 and 42 days before that date. They must allow you to switch suppliers from day 49 penalty free, again part of their licence conditions.

Most of the large suppliers start the switching process straight away but as you are within 49 days of the end that is of no real worry. Your old supplier should also keep you on the fixed tariff for 20 days after the end if you are in the process of switching.

Who is your current supplier ? I know who my money is on

esuhl

molerat wrote: »

Your supplier's licence conditions mandate them to inform you of your end of term between 49 and 42 days before that date. They must allow you to switch suppliers from day 49 penalty free, again part of their licence conditions.

Most of the large suppliers start the switching process straight away but as you are within 49 days of the end that is of no real worry. Your old supplier should also keep you on the fixed tariff for 20 days after the end if you are in the process of switching.

Who is your current supplier ? I know who my money is on

It's British Gas. It was the MSE collective fix. Was that your guess?

I did get a message from "MSE's Cheap Energy Club" warning that my fix was due to expire, but it says nothing about the fact that I could change up to 49 days before the contract expires.

I just don't understand why British Gas have put it in black-and-white that I will be charged if I leave before the end date. This is a letter from last July -- have the rules changed in that time? How can they get away with that if it's not true?!

nickcc

esuhl wrote: »

It's British Gas. It was the MSE collective fix. Was that your guess?

I did get a message from "MSE's Cheap Energy Club" warning that my fix was due to expire, but it says nothing about the fact that I could change up to 49 days before the contract expires.

I just don't understand why British Gas have put it in black-and-white that I will be charged if I leave before the end date. This is a letter from last July -- have the rules changed in that time? How can they get away with that if it's not true?!

Sounds like me. BG fix until end of Feb 17 but hoping for better deal from BG. Unfortunately never came so moved to cheapest supplier, BG £95 per month at moment then £115 after fix ends. New supplier using BG's usage figures £102 per month. No minimum term from new supplier so if something better comes up will switch again.

molerat

YAY , BG, I win the £5. The rules have been in place for several years now, no excuse for it.

esuhl

molerat wrote: »

YAY , BG, I win the £5. The rules have been in place for several years now, no excuse for it.

Ha! Just found this on USwitch.com, which confirms exactly what you've been saying:

https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/energy-tariff-ending/#step1

Right, well... I'll get cracking then!

Thanks again -- really appreciate it! :-)

esuhl

Holy moly! The cheapest "big name" tariff is £180 a year more than I'm paying now!!! Even a small-name company is £100 a year extra! And prices are going up further?! Yikes!!! :-(